Total pages in book: 86
Estimated words: 81076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81076 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 405(@200wpm)___ 324(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
This is it. My chance to earn my Bad Girl street cred without mortifying myself in front of a crowd of people.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I hurry through the door and down the hall, passing the windows that look into the shop on the way. I spy Matty already waiting in line to check out with the clerk and grin. Looks like my fake husband is just as eager to get back to our room as I am.
Blood singing with anticipation, I scurry on toward the front desk, wondering if Matty will pass by me as I’m talking to the clerk, and if he does, what he’ll do. Will he settle for a glare and a silent promise to do his sensual worst to me once we’re alone? Or will he start the game here at the desk, in front of the same tired-looking woman who checked us in late the night before?
I’m not sure how I feel about including others in our role-playing, but I don’t suppose it would be that big a deal. After all, I rarely spend any time in the northern part of the state. I’ll likely never see this woman again.
And even if I do, who cares? Being all-in with Matty on this sexy adventure is worth a little embarrassment down the road.
Buoyed by my inner pep talk, I ease into line behind the large man at the desk. He’s easily six and a half feet tall, if not taller, broad shouldered, thick all over, and…oddly familiar.
Even before I hear what he’s saying to the attendant, something deep in the recesses of my brain is humming, trying to put the pieces together. When I catch his wobbly voice, saying, “I know she’s here. I put a tracking device in her collar,” my skin starts to tingle with foreboding and the certainty that our sexy afternoon has just been sacked.
And that if Matty and I don’t play our cards right, we might be on our way to jail instead of O Town.
“I’ve been following whoever has her for days,” the man who I’m now one-hundred percent certain is Clyde’s owner says. His size and the cat tattoo I now glimpse on the side of this thick neck are unmistakable. “They finally stayed put long enough for me to catch up with them, but I can’t tell exactly where they are in the hotel.”
“Sir, I can’t—” the woman starts, but Clyde’s owner breaks in, “I promise, I don’t want any trouble. I’m not trying to start something with these people. I just want my cat back. I miss her so much. She’s pregnant, due to deliver any day now, and has terrible acid reflux. She needs special care.”
The exhausted woman shakes her head. “I’m sorry, sir. I feel for you. I really do. But I can’t give out private details on our guests. I could get in big trouble.”
He sighs. “I understand. Could you maybe just tell me if anyone checked in with a cat? And, if so, the floor they’re on?” he asks. “Like I said, I don’t want trouble, I just want to find Clyde. I’ll give the people who took her whatever they want. Money, contracts, toys, whatever, it doesn’t matter. I won’t even call the police. I just want my little buddy back. If you can help me figure out where to start looking, I know I can handle this peacefully.”
My heart lurches and a surge of guilt makes it impossible to sneak away and alert Matty to this new development the way I’d planned.
This poor man is in pain, pain at least partially caused by me, since I didn’t make contact as soon as I realized who Clyde was to assure him I’d keep his cat safe and do my best to reunite them as soon as possible.
Pulling in a breath and wishing I didn’t have to do this dressed like a call girl with a bra allergy, I tap him on the shoulder.
When he turns, gazing down at me with surprised green eyes rimmed with red from exhaustion—or grief—I know I’ve done the right thing. He might be a giant, but his eyes are so gentle and kind, the eyes of a man who deserves a sweet floof like Clyde in his life.
“Come with me,” I say, nodding toward the elevator.
He blinks. “Excuse me? Who are you?”
“I’m Nora and my boyfriend is with law enforcement. We can help you.” It isn’t exactly true. But it isn’t exactly un-true, either. The CIA is law-enforcement adjacent and, most importantly, I know I can ease this man’s mind and reunite him with his best friend.
What kind of human would I be if I didn’t do that?
And Matty will probably be glad to see this guy. After all, he was planning to return Clyde to his owner this weekend, anyway. This might actually work out beautifully for everyone.